Metal Construction News, November 2018

SPECIAL FEATURE MCN BUILDING AND ROOFING AWARDS Judges Award South Central Regional Library Louisville Ky Photos Brandon Stengel Farm Kid Studios Refl ective Learning Oasis By Christopher Brinckerhoff Associate Editor Form materials layout connect library with forest Nestled among trees on a wooded patch in Louisville Ky South Central Regional Library connects with and blends in with its surroundings Its shape building materials and fl oor plan contribute to the effect Louisville based JRA Architects Inc Minneapolis based MSR Design MKSK Studios Louisville offi ce and Louisville Free Public Library staff designed the library to attract patrons which it has done since opening in July 2017 It attracted the attention of the Metal Construction News Building and Roofi ng Awards judging panel as well The judges gave it a Judges Award and praised the design for complementing the trees with its nonlinear façades and windows cohesive forms and palette of building materials Daylighting and Drawing Attention The library has a long horizontal form that contrasts with and emphasizes strong vertical lines created by bordering trees Metal paneling wood paneling gray plaster and wide sections of glazing refl ect the site and connect the building to it Overall Colin Drake AIA LEED AP principal at JRA Architects says the form of the building is driven by three core principles daylighting the interior attracting the public and incorporating the forest At its core the building is a very simple long span shed whose façades are folded to shade harsh summer sunlight and punctured to capture daylight and connect visitors to the most compelling parts of the surrounding forest he says The glazing was positioned on the façade to maximize daylighting for the interior yet shield it from direct summer sun The metal skin was then applied to these various building faces to offer a humanizing scale to the building and introduce a richness of texture that reveals itself both from a distance and upon closer inspection In terms of drawing attention long triangular nonlinear bands of glazing and metal and plasterclad walls wrap around the entire structure The buildings very horizontal form deliberately contrasts with the verticality of the forest to reinforce the striking geometry of both Drake says Where the library is most visible to the public on the east side where there is roadway walls are clad in mirror polished stainless steel and appear to fold down from the roof to the ground Additionally at the southeast corner of the buildings rectangular footprint a skewed bay which houses space for teens juts out Matt Kruntorad AIA LEED principal at MSR Design says The east façade composition combines our strong desire for a beacon landmark moment with a desire to reduce the scale of a very large building as it pushes up against a pedestrian landscape The mirror occupies the most prominent location where it reflects both the landscape and the surrounding streetscape to create a more dynamic expression The building takes on an origami like quality literally leaning out toward the primary street intersection to catch the communitys attention Refl ecting Blending Materials The exterior has two types of stainless steel panels mirror polished and brushed gray plaster and wood panels for ceilings at overhangs All the building materials refl ect the surrounding area or blend into it For example Matt Frazure library manager of design and construction at Louisville Free Public Library says As the sky changes color throughout the day and as the landscape evolves throughout the year these sides of the building are constantly changing as well The forest sides of the building were clad in a matte lime based plaster whose neutral gray color was selected to approximate www metalconstruct ionnews com 30 METAL CONSTRUCTION NEWS November 2018